Examining table construction



APril 13, 1965 c. G. KANZELBERGER 3,178,169

EXAMINING TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March i5, 1962 April13, 1955 c. G. KANZELBERGER 3,178,169

EXAMINING TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1962 mmf,

www

lll o I RVIIIIIILUHHWIIIIWWW mmf.; 5.2.

wm R l QN INVEN TOR. byergeg' Claude Ci Mw .'s.

United States Patent 3,178,169 EXAMNNG TABLE CQNSTRUCTION Claude G.Kanzelberger, Two Rivers, Wis., assignorfo Hamilton ManufacturingCompany, Two Rivers, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 13,y1962, Ser. No. 179,329 Claims. (Cl. 269-324) This invention relatesgenerally to doctors examining tables and, more particularly, to anapparatus for supporting at an inclined angle the tiltable head endsection of an upholstered top of such a table.

Doctors examining tables are usually equipped with an upholstered topthat is divided into two sections, a stationary foot end section that isfixed to the frame of the table and a tiltable head end section that ishinged to the foot end section. This type of table is also equipped withan apparatus to support the head end section when it is at a tilted orinclined position. A common type of support for the head end sectionincludes a straight rod having one end pivotally connected to theunderside of the head end section. The rod extends downwardly andcooperates with a catch mechanism secured to the table frame, the catchmechanism ibeing adapted to engage the rod and hold it and the head endsection at Various inclined positions.

For the convenience of the doctor and his patient, the head end sectionshould be tilta-ble to any angle up to and including a verticalposition. Further, it is desirable to have the rod and the catchmechanism close to the head of the table and away from the hingeconnection of the head end section so that they will not interfere withcabinets mounted on the table frame, and so that they will provideadequate support vfor the head end section. Heretofore it has not beenpossible to obtain these advantages simultaneously because when the headend section is placed in the vertical position and the catch mechanismis mounted close to the head of the table, the straight rod must bequite long to reach from the head end section to the catch mechanism. Along rod is impractical because it will bump into the iloor when thehead end section is placed in the horizontal position, and it mayinterfere with cabinets.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide animproved support for the head end section of an examining table.

It is another object to provide a support for the head end section,including a rod that does not extend to the oor when the head endsection is placed in the horizontal position.

It is still another object to provide a support for the head end sectionthat may be confined to the head of the table so as not to materiallyinterfere with cabinets mounted on the table frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures of the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a View in side elevation of an examining table including asupport embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a por-tion of the structureshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support rail of the support;

FIG. 5 is an elevational View of a trip rod of the support;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a catch of the support; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational View of a raising rod of the support.

In general, a support embodying the invention comprises a raising rodand a catch mechanism, the raising rod being adapted to have one endpivotally connected to the underside of the head end section. The catchmechanism is adapted to be secured to the frame of the table underneaththe head end section, and the raising rod extends downwardly from itspivotal connection and is engaged by the catch mechanism. The catchmechanism is manually adjustable to permit vertical movement of theraising rod when desired and to prevent downward movement of the rodwhen desired.

The raising rod has a curved portion adjacent one end and it issubstantially straight over the remainder of its length. The endadjacent the curved portion is adapted to be connected to the head endsection, and from this connection the rod extends toward the head of thetable and then curves downwardly, the plane of the rod beingsubstantially vertical. Due to the curved portion of the raising rod,the catch mechanism may be positioned considerably closer to the head ofthe table than the pivotal connection between the rod and the head endsection. Therefore, the catch mechanism and the straight portion of therod do not materially interfere with cabinets mounted on the tableframe. Further, the mechanism permits the head end section to be placedin the vertical position, and it provides adequate support regardless ofthe angle of inclination of the head end section.

In greater detail, FIGS. l to 3 illustrate a doctors examining tablecomprising a frame 10, an upholstered top 11 and a plurality of cabinets12, 13 and 14. The frame 10 comprises two inverted generally U-shapedleg members 15 positioned in spaced apart, vertical and par-` allelplanes. Each leg member 15 comprises a horizontal center portion 16 andtwo downwardly extending leg portions 17 and 13. The leg members 15 aresecured together by a horizontal bracing structure 19 and a horizontalframe top 20, FIG. 2. The bracing structure -19 extends bothlongitudinally and laterally of the table and is secured to the legportions 17 and `18 of both leg members 15 at each end of the table. Theframe top- 20 extends between and is secured to the center portions 16of the leg members 15 by two longitudinally extending angles 21. Eachangle 21 includes a horizontal portion 22 secured to the underside ofthe frame top 20 as by screws, and a vertical portion 23 secured to thecenter portion 16 of the adjacent leg member 15 as by screws. Each angle21 also includes a vertical portion 24 offset outwardly from the portion23, the portions 24 supporting two longitudinally extending side aprons215. The side aprons 25 are positioned between the leg portions 17 and18 and underneath the center portions 16, and are secured to thevertical portions24 of the angles as by screws. l-f desired, an endapron 26 may be secured to the frame top 20 at the head of the table.

The cabinets 12, 13 and 14 are positioned on top of the bracingstructure 19, between the leg members 15 and underneath the frame top20. They are preferably secured to the bracing structure 19 by aplurality of U- shaped straps 27 positioned around the underside of thebracing structure and secured to the cabinets as by screws. The cabinets12 and 13 may be conventional types having shelves or drawers, and thecabinet 14 is provided with space in the interior thereof to receive araising rod of the support.

The upholstered top 11 is divided into two sections, a foot end section28 and a tiltable head end section 29. Each section includes a frame 30,preferably made of wood, covered by suitable upholstering 31. The frame39 of the foot end section 28 is fastened to a support block 32, whichin turn is fastened to the frame top 2i), and to an L-shaped bracket 33also secured to the frame 3 top 20. The bracket 33 extends laterally ofthe table and supports a hinge 34 at its upper edge. The frame 3i) ofthe foot end section may be secured either directly to the bracketlor,in the event it is desiredlto pivot 'the foot end section, to thehingei34.

The-frame of Ithe head end section 29.is pivotally connected at one endto the bracket 33 by the hinge 34, and it is supported atapproximatelyits center by a support embodying the invention. The -support comprisesa raising rod 36 and afcatch mechanism indicated generallybythe-numeral. yOne end-of the raising rod 36 is pivotally connected bya pin .38 toa-mounting bracket 39 secured to the underside ofthe frame3ft-of the head end section 29. The raising rod.36,'FIGS. -1 and 7, is

-forrned with acurvedportion, indicatedgenerally bythe Vnumeral 4G,adjacent its pivotally connected end and a relatively long straightportion 41; Between the curved .portion 40 and the pivotally connectedend is a relatively short straight portion 41a. The raising rodispositioned such that it extends fromthe bracket 39 toward the head ofthe table and then downwardly and at an angle through an opening 42formed in the frame top 20 and toward the-base of the table.

The catch mechanism 37 is adapted to hold the raising rod 36againstdownward movement when desired, and

.includes a trip rod 45, FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, extending laterally ofthetable through two-holes 46 formed in the side aprons '25. -A handle 47is .secured to each end of the trip rod by a screw 48 threadedthrough ahole formed in each handle and into a hole 49 formed in each end of thetrip rod 4S. The catch mechanism further includes a support rail 5t?,FIGS. 2 and 4, having a flat center portion indicated generally by thenumeral 51, two end flanges 52, an upper flange 53, and a lower ilange54. The two-end flanges 52 and the upperilange 53 extend laterally ofthe centeitportion 51 toward the foot of the table and the lower tlange'54 extends laterally of the center portion 51 toward the head of thetable. The support railis securedto the side aprons 25 and to the frametop 20 by screws 57 inserted through holes V55 formed in the upperandendilanges and threaded into the frame top and the side aprons. The twoupper corners of the rail Si) are-cut away as'indicated generally by thenumeral S6, to provide space'for the two angles '21.

A substantially U-shaped'bracketSS is secured as by welding to thecenterportion 51 of the support rail 50 substantially midwawy betweenthe aprons 25. A hole 59 is formed through cach arm 60 of the'brackets'58, the lholes receiving the trip rod 45 and the bracket 58 supportingthe trip rod.

A raising rod catch 61 `is secured to the trip rod 45 between the arms6i? of the bracket 58. This catch 61 has a hole 62`formed through itwhich receives the trip rod 45, and asmaller hole V64- transverse to thehole 62. A roll pin-63 is inserted through the hole` 64 and through aradially extending hole 69 formed through the trip rod 45 atsubstantially its center to thereby securerthe catch 61 to the trip rod4S. The raising rod catch 61 is formed with a round opening 67 at itsend opposite the hole 62, which is countersunk at its ends and throughwhich the raising rod 36 extends as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The diameterof the opening 67 is slightly greater than the diameterof the rod 36 sothat the rod may slide freely through it. Further, a lug 68 is formed onthe underside ofthe raising rod catch 61, the lug 68 having a hole 69formed therethrough. A tension spring 76 is positioned with one endfastened in thehole 69 in the lug 68 and its other end fastened in ahole'l formed in a plate 72 secured to the lower ange 540i the supportrail 5t).l This 'tension spring 7i) urges the vraisingirod catch 61andthe trip rod 45 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3.:From FIG. lit is apparent that the point of `engagement of the catch 61with the raising rod 36 is disthe catch-61 nearly coaxial.

4 from the pivotal connection to the axis of the straight portion 41 ofthe rod 36.

When the head end section 29 of the upholstered top 11 is pivotedupwardly about the axis of the hinge 34 to one of the dotted linepositions shown in FIG. l, the rod 36 rises with thehead end section.The straight portion 41 `of the rod 36 rst swings toward the foot of thetable and then swings toward the head of the table, as shown in FIG. 1,as the head end section 29 is raised. The action of the tension spring-70 causes two opposing edges 73 and 74 of the opening 67 in the catch61 to slidingly engage against the rod as it rises. After the head endsection has 'been placed in the desired position and is reyleased, theweight of the head end section 29 and -the rod -36 cause the edge 74ofthe openingf67 to ybite into the side of the raising rod 36,'therebypreventing the raising rod36'from sliding downwardly. /In the event theangle .of the inclination of the head end section 34 is tobefurymitfit-and the head end section 29-toibe moved to any desiredposition.

As soon as the handle -4'7 is released, the-tension spring 70 pulls thecatch'61 downwardly and the edges 73 and 74 again engage the raising rod36.

Due tothe curved portion 4G of the raising rod 36, thecatch-mechanism 37and the straight portion 41 of the raising rod are displaced toward thehead-of the'table from the pivotal connection of the raising rod agreater distance than heretofore possible. Therefore the width of thecabinet 14, longitudinally of the table, thatfisidesigned to receive theraising rod 36 may be made relatively small, there-by increasing thearea available for other cabinets. Further, the raising rod 36is securedto the head end section suciently distant from the-hinge 34 that itprovides adequate support-for the'head end sec,- tion 29 when it istilted. In addition, the head end section 29 may be placed in averticalposition without the use of an exceptionally long rod of thetype heretofore necessary. Also the curved rod vpermits the catch'61 tobe. positioned farther from-the hinge 34 and still have the lowerportion of the raising rod extend generally downward and hence Vthe rodatall positions will remain within the contines of the table structure.

I claim:

l. In a doctors examining Atable having a frame and a headend section,one end of the head end section being hinged to the frame of theytableand the other end being free, a support for said'head end sectioncomprising a catch mechanism secured to the frame of the tableunderneath thehead end section, and a raising rod having one end.pivotally connected to -the head end section, said raising rod having acurved portion adjacent said one encl and being positioned such that itcurves from adjacent said one end downwardly and toward the'head of thetable and then generally in a straight line down` wardly, said catchmechanism releasably engaging said rod at any desired position.

2. A support as in claim l, wherein said rod further includes asubstantially straight portion between said curved portion and said oneend, whereby said substan- -tially straight portion extendslongitudinally ofthe table Abeneath the head end section when the headend section is in a horizontal position.

3. A support as in claim l, wherein said raising rod comprises arelatively long straightvportiomarelatively short straight portionadjacent said one end, and said curved portion being located betweensaid two straight portions, and said relatively long straight portionbeing engageable by said catch mechanism.

4. A table as in claim 1, wherein said rod is pivotally connected tosaid head end section a substantial distance from said one end of saidhead end section, and said catch mechanism is mounted on said frame sothat its point of engagement with said rod is spaced a distance fromsaid one end of said rod at least as great as the distance from said oneend of said rod to the axis of the said straight portion of said rod.

5. A tabe as in claim 1, wherein said catch mechanism is substantiallynearer the head of the table than said one end of said rod when saidhead end section is substantially horizontal, and the straight portionof said rod rst swings toward the foot of the table and then swingstoward the head of the table as the head end section is moved from thehorizontal position to the vertical position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS Briggs 10S-80Taubert et al 311-7 Schuehle et al 311-65 Allison 311-10 Demcak 311-10Froelich 311-7 Davis 108-80 X Shanipaine .311*10 PGttern 311-10 X RGBERTC. REORDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE L. EREHM, Examiner.

1. IN A DOCTOR''S EXAMINING TABLE HAVING A FRAME AND A HEAD END SECTION,ONE END OF THEHEAD END SECTION BEING HINGED TO THE FRAME OF THE TABLEAND THE OTHER END BEING FREE, A SUPPORT FOR SAID HEAD END SECTIONCOMPRISING A CATCH MECHANISM SECURED TO THE FRAME OF THE TABLEUNDERNEATH THE HEAD END SECTION, AND A RAISING ROD HAVING ONE ENDPIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE HEAD END SECTION, SAID RAISING ROD HAVING ACURVED PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE END AND BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT ITCURVES FROM ADJACENT SAID ONE END DOWNWARDLY AND TOWARD THE HEAD OF THETABLE AND THEN GENERALLY IN A STRAIGHT LINE DOWNWARDLY, SAID CATCHMECHANISM RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID ROD AT ANY DESIRED POSITION.